A large part of the dangerous dog problems here in California are directly related to lack of RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERSHIP. A must for all dog owners should be learning to understand how to communicate with their animal. Establishing early guidelines of what is and is not acceptable behavior sets the ground rules for a long lasting, controlled, companion animal. Learning to speak "dog" is sometimes more difficult then it seems. To find a responsible, professional dog trainer, there are several things you should consider. 

1. VERSATILITY: A good dog trainer will use techniques and training styles, which are compatible with not only your dog's temperament, but yours as well. Every dog is different, and some dogs respond better to certain approaches. What works for a Rottweiler won't necessarily work for a Toy Poodle. Recognizing and understanding individual breed traits is important to the success of any training program.

2. EXPERIENCE: We all know people that have been driving for many years, but still can't parallel park. Dog training is the same way. Don't measure dog trainer's skills by the number of years in the profession. Instead, judge a trainer by what s/he has done in the "dog world", rather than how long they've been doing it.

3. COST: When you pay for training, make sure you are paying for results…. not a specified number of hours or session. Good dog trainers know that every dog/owner team is different. Some need more time to learn than others.

4. WHAT ABOUT GROUP CLASSES? Try to avoid this for beginning dogs and handlers. The level of distraction that is present in a group situation is seldom beneficial during the learning process. When professional dog trainers train their own dogs they rarely do it in a group setting. They train one-on-one, giving their dog 100% of their attention it's usually best to introduce and teach new exercises and rules in a distraction free environment. Good trainers will teach first, train second and proof with distractions once the dog truly understands what is expected.

5. HOW MUCH SHOULD I EXPECT TO PAY FOR A GOOD DOG TRAINING PROGRAM? You can expect to pay between $600 and $1200. A good dog trainer will usually have a waiting list of dog owners who want to work with them. Your goal should be to work with the best dog trainer you can find, not haggle over price. And in virtually all cases that we've seen, the dog trainers who are charging bargain basement prices are the ones who you probably don't want to be working with in the first place. It's better to spend your money intelligently on a top-notch dog training program from the start, than to waste your money chasing a bargain and then having to pay more money for a good dog trainer somewhere down the line.

6. ASK FOR A FREE DEMONSTRATION/CONSULTATION: You don't need to pay a dog trainer to look at your dog. This should always be done for free. Besides, why pay money just to meet a trainer, then have to decide whether you want to work with them or not? Also, ask to see the trainer's personal dog. What type of relationship do they share? How quickly does the dog respond to the FIRST command?

7. SHOULD YOU SEND YOUR DOG AWAY TO BE TRAINED? If circumstances do not permit you to spend the required time needed to train your dog at home, then "Doggy Boot Camp" training may be your best solution. After your dog has successfully completed the training away from home, you will still need to take time to learn the training techniques that your dog now understands. The trainer should be willing to explain how the training was accomplished and how you as the owner can easily maintain it.

8. SHOULD YOU HAVE A DOG TRAINER COME TO YOUR HOME? Since this is where the majority of problems begin, why not? Some trainers will conduct the initial consultation on neutral territory to get a truer reading of the animal and allowing for less distractions (i.e. children, phone, dinner, etc.) for the owner.

9. WHY YOU SHOULD AVOID THE BIG, CHAIN PET STORE DOG TRAINING PROGRAMS: Because in most cases, the dog trainers you'll encounter have very little actual "hands on" experience, and have been recruited through a newspaper ad. Dog training is both an art and a science. There is NO way one can become a professional dog trainer without apprenticing under several experienced dog trainers, with varied backgrounds over an acceptable period of time.

TO FIND A GROUP OR PRIVATE TRAINER IN YOUR AREA, CALL 866.957.DOGS.